Report on Naas pollution 'shocking'
NAAS, 27 October 2000: by Trish Whelan. A new report on pollution of the Tipper River, which runs through Naas to the historic Oldtown Estate, has been described as ‘shocking reading’. The river is also a critical water source for the Grand Canal. Some levels of pollutants were found to be 60 times the EU limit.
The report was commissioned by Major John de Burgh (left) of Oldtown to establish sources of pollution of the Winter Gardens at Oldtown Estate and the Tipper River, and to suggest remedial action. It found that enrichment and contamination of the river is taking place up stream of Oldtown.
The survey was undertaken by John King of Irish Waterways Management.
Areas investigated in the report include the UDC culvert near St Patrick’s Well in Oldtown, Millbrook, Lakelands, Hazlemere and where the river flows behind the convent school towards the McInerney housing development.
Naas UDC Cllr Pat McCarthy says an important part of our environment is being ruined through sheer carelessness and neglect and some of the problem can be attributed to Naas UDC.
He is to table a motion at the next UDC meeting calling for urgent remedial action. He says the gardens at Oldtown are supposed to become a public amenity under the Naas Development Plan ‘but the UDC seems to be making no serious attempt to fulfill this promise to the citizens’. “Now we learn from this report that the Octagon Lake in Oldtown ‘has no amenity value in its present condition”.
Pat McCarthy says Major de Burgh is to be commended for his sense of public responsibility in drawing attention to this sad state of affairs. “For several months he has been seeking to open negotiations with the UDC on the future public use of these beautiful gardens. Each attempt is met with disinterest. If we don’t take decisive action soon a golden opportunity may be irretrievably lost.”
The main feature in the Water Garden is the Octagon Lake, which has excessive growth of aquatic weed. The garden is fed by the Tipper River which flows east to west through farmland and into the Naas urban area, eventually forming an important feeder to the Grand Canal.
The Major says he is now just 80 years of age and ‘won’t live forever’. “Everybody says Oldtown is a marvellous place, but nobody is doing anything constructive about it.”
A copy of the report has been sent to the OPW.
Cllr Catherine Murphy told Monday’s meeting of councillors that Kildare was near the bottom of the list when it comes to getting extra money from the Minister’s department, despite the huge increase in population.
FF Cllr Paul Kelly (right) queried how the Council’s case had been put to the Department. He suggested a deputation to the Government to make their case to which Lab Deputy Emmet Stagg retorted: “You’re in Government now. It’s your own Minister that won’t give us the money. You get the money from him now. That’s your job”.
The formal twinning ceremony took place in the Civic Centre at 3pm. The Mayor of Niles, Nick Blase (left) welcomed the Irish delegation and Cathaoirleach Catherine Murphy responded. Mary Kay Morrissey and Paul Kelly representing the two twinning committees spoke about the benefits of twinning and the future relationship between the two towns.
They were officially welcomed by chairman, Cllr Rainsford Hendy(left), who extended an invitation to them ‘to call again’.
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KILL: The Kill Development Plan produced by Kildare County Council will be discussed by Kill Community Council at a meeting at the Parish office beside the Catholic Church this evening (Tuesday) at 8.30pm. Local people want a public debate on a plan that is going to have profound effects on the local community and life and living there.
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NAAS, 26 October 2000: by 
They said some traffic would still have to access the town but much could be redirected. “If trucks were prohibited from the town, they would have to use the motorway. We have the most elaborate bypasses in the country,” town clerk Declan Kirrane said.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Mary Glennon said a huge problem exists at Murtagh’s Corner and at McDonald’s on Main Street. “That junction is an absolute disaster,” she said. “Deliveries should also be confined to certain times,” she said.
LEIXLIP, 26 October 2000: by 
“The catalogue also includes Listed winning filly Poco A Poco,” notes Goffs’ Nick Nugent. “Saturday’s Autumn Bonus Yearling Sale (with 267 catalogued) has constantly provided a top class two-year-old, including the Molecomb Stakes winner Misty Eyed (£3,200). Monread Stud, who sold the group winning filly Desert Sky at this sale have a draft of seven including a colt by Cadeaux Genereux and fillies by Nashwan, Zafonic and Salse.”
COUNTY HALL, 24 October 2000: by 
KILCULLEN, 24 October 2000: by 
Noel Clare, editor of The Bridge and a key figure in pushing the project, thanked all those who had made original contributions to the magazine, and individuals and organisations which have supported the £10,000 venture, including Kilcullen Development Association and KELT. In particular, he thanked all those who bought and read The Bridge, which has always been produced by voluntary effort, over the past 30 years.
Cllr Timmy Conway (right) felt people from outside Naas could end up with more points than newly-married couples from the town while Cllr Anthony Egan (below) said the Council will have to ensure that the houses are kept to affordable levels.
A draft document given to councillors shows those eligible include tenants and tenant purchasers of local authority houses who surrender their existing houses to the local authority, and tenants of one year’s standing of houses provided by approved voluntary housing bodies under the rental subsidy scheme who return their houses to the voluntary housing body.
ATHGARVAN, 24 October 2000: by 
